Chapter Eight
Their hotel in Beverly Hills was beautiful and not someplace Nora could ever hope to afford to stay. So, while Linc was busy at the studio, she took advantage of the luxury, putting on her bathing suit and taking Sophie to the tropical-themed pool.
Yet another reminder of the vast difference between her and Linc’s social standings. If the limo hadn’t driven the point home earlier, this hotel with its glamorous opulence and every amenity under the sun surely pounded the last nail into Nora’s optimistic coffin. Linc could never look at her and not think country mouse. Although she hated to admit it, the eye-opener was a good thing. After spending so much time with Linc, getting to know the man behind the celebrity, she’d been starting to believe her fantasies had a chance to come true. All of this glitz was a good reminder of her real role.
Still early afternoon, the pool area was crowded when they arrived though the pool itself was virtually empty—only one lone swimmer was doing laps. Seemed as though the hotel’s guests preferred to sunbathe rather than swim, taking up most of the loungers. Nora was lucky enough to snag a pair on the outskirts, which she quickly claimed by tossing her and Sophie’s towels and discarded clothing on top.
Not yet the height of summer, the California sun still shone with nary a cloud to block its warming rays. Nora soaked it in, tipping her head back, relishing the heat hitting her cheeks. Something she missed with Portland’s mostly overcast skies. Oz kept promising sunnier days, but she’d yet to see that happen.
A tug on her hand got her attention. Sophie, looking adorable in a pink with purple polka dots one-piece, was impatient to get in the water. The girl didn’t talk, yet she had no trouble making her wishes known.
Nora stood in the shallows of the tepid yet refreshing water, legs planted wide for balance and watched as Sophie swam the width of the shallow end, making extended strokes with her arms and powerful kicks with her legs, not having a problem putting her face in the water like so many children her age did.
After over an hour of splashing antics, Nora called a halt to their play. “Let’s get out and take a break. I want us to rest and apply more sunscreen.” Though she’d loaded them both with SPF 30 before coming down to the pool, Nora could feel a slight burn on her shoulders and figured they could both use a fresh application.
“Remember to always walk, not run, around a pool,” Nora called out to Sophie’s retreating back as the little girl made a beeline toward their lounge chairs.
Sophie slowed her pace but still ended up reaching them before Nora, picking up a towel and trying unsuccessfully to get it wrapped around her shoulders.
“Here, let me help.”
By the time Nora was done, Sophie looked like a little mummy, eyes closed, lying comfortably on the chaise. With her late night of travel the day before, Nora wouldn’t be surprised if she fell asleep even with the short nap she’d had in the car on the ride back to the hotel.
After getting comfortable on her own chaise and slathering on a fresh coat of sunscreen, Nora took another glance at Sophie to see she was sleeping before pulling a book from her bag, opening it to where it was marked.
She was just getting to an exciting part when a masculine voice spoke from nearby, capturing her attention. “Is this lounge taken?”
She pried her eyes away from the page to see a twenty-something blond with a nice tan, pointing to the chaise beside hers.
He gave her a twisted smile. “Sorry to interrupt, you looked very engrossed but there’s not many to choose from.”
Nora smiled back. “We had the same problem. Feel free to use it.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t sure if you were saving it. For your husband, maybe?” He raised both eyebrows to indicate he was hinting for an answer.
A bit baffled, Nora faltered, “Oh, I’m not married.”
The guy peeled off his shirt revealing a nice set of abs and got comfortable on the chaise. “I just assumed from Sleeping Beauty over there.”
Ah, now she understood. Smiling, Nora explained, “I’m her nanny.”
“Well, Miss Nanny, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Rick.” Pulling off his sunglasses, he leaned over extending his hand which—she couldn’t help but notice—was attached to a well-defined muscled arm.
“Nora,” she said, taking his hand with a firm shake.” He had nice eyes—a striking blue with long, dark lashes.
“What are you reading?” he asked once settled again with his shades firmly back in place.
She flashed him the cover. “It’s a thriller. I’m just getting to the part when we find out how the wife killed her husband.”
“Well, now I’m doubly sorry for interrupting you.”
Nora laughed. “That’s the good thing about books, no matter how many times you need to put them down, you never miss anything.”
“True. Although there is a pause button on the TV remote.”
Nora shook her head and laughed. “That’s hardly the same thing.”
“You have a nice laugh.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “Thank you.”
“Maybe when you get off duty I can take you out for coffee or a drink?”
While the guy was cute and seemed nice, she just wasn’t interested. “Um…” All thoughts of how to politely turn him down flew from her head when she spied a very unhappy looking Linc bearing down on them.
Mistaking her hesitancy and unaware of the storm approaching at his back, Rick went on to say, “I promise I’m not in the habit of picking up women at hotel pools. It’s just that I find you very—”
Nora never got to find out what she was very because Linc arrived at that moment, cutting Rick off mid-sentence. “Is there a problem here?”
“Problem?” Rick’s brows rose in shocked surprise, most likely from Linc’s aggressively harsh tone. “No. No problem.” His eyes moved from Link to Nora and then back again, confusion clearly written on his face.
“Good.” Linc turned to look at Nora, eyes narrowing and jaw locking. “Get your stuff. We’re leaving.”
Never having seen Linc in such a state, Nora threw Rick an apologetic smile before hastily throwing her clothes on over her suit and grabbing her bag. By the time she was done, Linc already had the still sleeping Sophie in his arms. Nora wasn’t sure what was going on, but she knew something was very wrong.
“I thought you said you weren’t married,” she heard Rick say as they headed for the gated exit, but neither of them acknowledged him or stopped.
It wasn’t until they were tucked away alone in the elevator amid uncomfortable silence that Nora dared ask, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” His terse reply, rigid jaw, and pissed off expression told a different story.
She didn’t think he was upset that she took Sophie to the pool, but maybe. “You got my note, right? Saying where we were.” When he only answered with a brusque nod, she pressed, “Are you mad at me?”
He glanced down at her, his expression morphing before her eyes, going from all hard edges to something softer. “No.”
Her brow puckered. “But you are mad?”
“But not at you.”
“Did something happen at the studio?”
Evading her probing eyes, he turned back to face the elevator doors before responding. “Yeah.”
She had a feeling he was still lying but wasn’t sure what, if anything, she should do. Linc in a bad mood was new territory for them. And while she’d like to think they’d become friendly over the past few weeks, she still didn’t feel comfortable probing when he clearly didn’t want to talk about what was bothering him.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped off, Nora following Linc to the door to her room.
“You got your key?” he inquired.
“Oh, yeah, it’s in my bag. Hang on.” After a bit of fumbling, she got the door open, holding it wide for Linc to walk through with Sophie.
He deposited her on the bed then headed for his room. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
She watched him disappear through the connecting door, pondering his mood before shaking it off. There was nothing she could do if he didn’t want to share. She wasn’t his girlfriend or even a friend, really, with the right to push him to open up. She needed to just let it go. It wasn’t her job to make Linc happy. Something she’d be wise to remember.
He had the right idea about one thing though. A shower was an excellent idea. She needed to wash the chlorine from her hair and it was best to do it while Sophie was still sleeping.
Nora had just reached her suitcase when the door flew back open. Eyes widening, her heartbeat quickened as Linc reached her in two long strides, took her by the upper arms, and pulled her against his chest.
His lips crashed down on hers. Shocked, she comprehended nothing but his possessive hold and the spark that shot down her spine to her core, igniting a need she hadn’t thought possible. His kiss was everything she’d expected it to be and more.
So much more.
Ending the kiss just as abruptly as he started it, Linc wrenched his mouth away, taking a step back. She stared up at him, breath held and barely blinking, thankful for the firm grip he still had on her upper arms, unsure if her legs would support her without it.
“I shouldn’t have done that.” One of his hands moved to cup her chin and his thumb tenderly caressed her bottom lip. “But fuck me if I don’t want to do it again.”
She wanted to tell him that was fine by her, but her brain was having trouble forming words. Instead, she licked her still moist lips, tasting Linc on her tongue.
“Fuck, you’re killing me.”
Stepping into her, he moved his hand from her chin to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in the hairs at her nape as he lowered his head. This time his kiss was gentle. His lips softly caressed hers before his tongue swiped, asking for permission to enter. Which she instantly gave, opening for him willingly, and a growl filled her ears as he deepened the kiss.
His other hand moved from her arm to the low of her back, holding her in place. She felt his hardness pressing into her belly and in response, her nipples stiffened and her core ached. Completely taken by surprise by her level of need and how quickly it had come over her, she found her hands clutching his sides, her fingers curled into the soft fabric of his t-shirt, pressing herself impossibly closer, wanting every inch of him touching every inch of her, knowing she could never get close enough—not while they were both fully clothed.
The pressure against her mouth softened as the kiss turned into tiny nibbles, his teeth lightly nipping her lower lip before skimming along her jaw, until his mouth reached her ear. “Tell me to stop. Tell me to walk away.”
“I can’t.” Was that her voice filled with breathless longing? “I don’t want you to.”
Burying his face in her neck, his arms tightened around her.
And that’s how they stayed—him breathing her in, her feeling the pounding of his heart— for a full minute. Until, without a word, he stepped from her embrace and left the room, closing the connecting door with a soft snick.
And she was left standing there, staring at it.
What the hell?